WSP04624

• File Number: 8220.145.A
• Description: La Plata Project ‎(New Mexico)‎
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Date: 4/1/1944
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: La Plata Project: Colorado-New Mexico - Project Investigations Report No. 32-A
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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4. Use by New Mexico is at all times limited to the require-
ments of beneficial use.

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Operation of the compact has shown that during the latter part
of the irrigatien season, when river flow at Hesperus falls te 25
secend-feet, such flows, if allowed to pass, weuld not reach the state
line, and consequently would not benefit New Mexico. Colorado ditches
having senior rights (all above Fort Lewis), therefore, have been per-
mitted te divert all flews at Hesperus of 25 second-feet or less. At
the same time, Colorade ditches below the mouth of Cherry Creek, in-
cluding the ditches fed by seepage from Long Hollow Creek, have been
required to cease diversions. This practioe, established by 15 years
ef operation, has rendered clause 2(b) of the cempact inoperative in
the latter part of the irrigatien season, so that generally none of
the flow at Hesperus need be turned down at such times.

The rotation prOVision of the compact has been invDked in every
year in 18 years of eperation, except during the extreme low-water
year of 1934.

In ene year (1936) New Mexico del\lilllds on Colorado water were
terminated by August rains; also, July er August floods destroyed
New Mexico diVersion structures in five years, 1927, 1929, 1930, ~934,
1937, and thereafter no water deliveries were required from Colorado
for the remainder of the irrigation seas en.

Eo onomic C ondi ti ens

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Farming operations carried on since 1875 have demonstrated the
suitability of soils and climate for irrigated agriculture. However,
the water supply is inadequate for the area under ditches, and shortages
have been particularly severe since 1928. Reduced. streamflow, poor
transportation.( which has made marketing difficult and expensive)
and the general instability of agriculture have operated at various
times since the maximum develepment was reached on La Plata River to
reduce the cultivated area to about half that formerly cultivated in
Colorado.

During some years of the depression ever half the population of
the project was receiving relief of some kind. In the last four years,
impreved transportation facilities cilld better ecenomic conditions have
helped to revive the area, and with a regulatod water supply, the area
of maximum development may again be approached, at least in years of
ordinary run-off. But, supplemental water must be provided if much of
the present irrigated area is to be successfully farmed and the farm
populatien retained.

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